Chapter 23
The boutique smelled like fresh fabric and expensive polish. I walked slowly between the racks, letting my fingers trail over the textures. Everything looked custom, luxury, too good for someone like me to casually touch.
I shifted to the side and leaned a hip against a velvet stool near the counter, flipping through one of the lookbooks they’d left out. Kent stood a few feet away, anns folded, posture stiff like he was guarding a bank vault.
“Thanks for coming here with me, 1 said.
I’m just following orders,” he replied, eyes fixed straight ahead. Not even a glance in my direction. His voice was cold, like this whole thing was a
waste of his time.
1 raised an eyebrow, letting the pages fall shut. “You know what? I’ve never really had a conversation with you.”
“We have no reason to. Same flat tone.
I exhaled and brushed a sleeve back onto the rack. “You could at least pretend you don’t hate me.”
“I don’t hate you. But I work for Mr. Lever. My loyalty is to him. That’s where it begins and ends.”
crossed my arms and shifted my weight to one leg, flipping through another rack. The silence dragged out
Still. I’m surprised Karl would even do something like this for me.”
That made Kent look at me, just once.
“So am I. The last time he did something like this, it was for Gypsy.
My e
eyes snapped toward him. “Who’s Gypsy?”
He paused, then turned away. Pretend you never heard that.”
I stepped closer and nudged him with my elbow. “Come on. You already said it. Now say the rest.
He didn’t budge. The less you know, the better.”
“So she was his ex, right?” I asked, already piccing in together.
He didn’t confirm it. But he didn’t deny it either.
“That’s how much you should know,” he said finally.
I let the topic drop. I walked over to the mirror and pretended to inspect a dress, letting my fingers run over the neckline of a silk piece. But I wasn’t thinking about the fabric.
kari had done all
Taught my reflection
et this whole thing up, sent Kent, backed me like it meant something. I hadn’t expected that
f–thought and realized I was smiling, Blushing, actually.
I frowned and shook my head
This doesn’t mean anything but there’s nothing in the contract against. feelings
1 turned away from the muter and grabbed the next dress, pretending it all meant nothing
Cat the glass table near the back, flipping through the sketchbooks the boutique had left out. I picked up a few
a few swatches, rubbed them between my fingers, and set them aude. Some were too rough, others too light. I reached for a pen and potted notes in the corner of a notepad, circling a few
I stood up and walked to the front rack again, pulling out a piece from the middle and checking the satching. I held it up against the light, turned it uver and unspected the scans before placing it back neatly
Kent stayed near the entrance. His arms were fulded, his jaw tight. He checked his watch, then glanced at me once without saying anything.
I picked up my phone and snapped a photo of the display shelving. Then another of a label on a dress I liked. I reached for a catalogue at the counter and flipped through a while leaning on my chow. One of the staff passed me a bag with the items I’d marked earlier. I took it and nodded. “I’m done” I said, brudung a strand of hair behind my car
1/2
3.03 PM
Chapter 23
Kent walked to the register, pulled out a black card, and paid without a word. He didn’t even blink when they handed him the receipt.
He handed me the bag and turned to the door. “Let’s head home.
The drive home felt longer than it was. I sat with my chin resting on my palm, staring out the window, but I wasn’t really looking at anything
I kept thinking about Karl.
I imagined telling him everything how I picked out fabric swatches, how Kent almost spoke like a human being for once. I didn’t know when it started, but I caught myself smiling. Blushing, even.
No. No, no, I don’t have feelings for him
It’s just a crush. That’s it. A light crush.
Any woman would feel this way, I mean, he’s a billionaire, he’s doing all this for me, and he’s not even being a jerk about it. Most of the time. That‘
1 pressed my fingers to my cheeks when I realized I was still smiling like an idiot. Kent glanced at me once through the rearview mirror but didn’t say a thing.
soon as we pulled into the driveway, I opened the door before the car even stopped properly.
jas soon as
“Miss–1” Kent started, but I was already halfway to the house.
I clutched the shopping bags tight and bolted past the living room. One of the maids paused mid–dusting and gave me a confused look, but I barely noticed. I was already climbing the stairs, eager to tell Karl everything.
“Thank you so much for today I truly appreciate it I hope we can talk more since we will be working together for a long time, business or not.
I reached his room, adjusted my grip on the bags, and pushed the door open with a wide smile.
“Karl, I have to tell you.
1 froze
The smile dropped off my face instantly.
There he was, shirtless, sitting back on the edge of the couch. A woman in a bikini, tanned, tall, like someone from a yacht party, had one arm kooped around his neck. Her hips moved slowly against his lap.
His hand rested on her thigh
AD
